See You Soon! Directions On How To Use The Blog For The Next Month Or So

Today is officially the first day of winter break for Duke students. You may not be able to see me smiling right now wearing pajamas in bed at 1 PM on a Monday, but make no mistake: I am smiling right now wearing my pajamas in bed at 1PM on a Monday. Last week was finals week on campus, which is a time when engineering students pore over textbooks and notes in order to master the derivation and application of several centuries worth of scientific progress and theory in order to even have an infinitesimal chance at passing their exams while the arts and sciences kids procrastinate their papers on topics like "Philosophy of the Alphabet" ("But how does the letter T feel?") and "My Breakfast This Morning: A Closer Look at My Breakfast This Morning." The bottom line is that this is what was behind our lack of columns and features last week (besides Summer's interview with Ari, because she's a baller like that).

The Blog Staff is now on break until next semester, though by no means does that mean that this blog will be dead until then. I will definitely continue to post anonymous entries every Monday as I get them. If someone sends in a coming out story (using the link on the side bar or by emailing us at bluedevilsunited@gmail.com) I'll also post that the following Wednesday. I would also stay tuned for news updates, and wouldn't count out the random appearance of a column or two.

This is also a great opportunity to go through any of the 124 previous posts that you may have missed or want to read again. Especially those that you forgot to comment on. Remember when you forgot to comment on that post? Me too. Take care of that!

A list of links to all non-news posts for your convenience after the jump...

Columns:

Aliza: "Election Round-ups: What We've Lost and What We've Gained"

Ari: "Movie Review: The Bubble"

John: "Mommy, can you help me tie my shoes? Oh…and by the way, I’m gay"

Jack: "Oh Hell No! Grrl, hold my earrings."

Oli: "Friday Night"

Aliza: "The Effectiveness of Having Principles"

Robert: "PDgAy? Fine with Me"

Patrick: "This Is What Happens When You Switch Your Major From Engineering To Linguistics…"

Nick: "Bro-sex (and other subtleties of being out and Greek)"

Matt: "Oh, him? He's gay."

Aliza: "Don't Forget to Remember"

Chris: "Love, Survive, Organize: The Bull City Vigil for Jorge and Jason"

Ari: "Movie Review #2: Get Real"

Aliza: "Identity Crisis: does the Movement require that we check a box?"

Robert: "Mixed Blood"

Nick: "A Strange Encounter"

Justin: "Party Boy Chad, Psychosexual Revelations, G-Bombs, and Other Thoughts"

Jack: "Sex, Sex, Sex and More Sex"

Oli: "Velociraptors"

Matt: "Rainbows, Buttons, Flags, and Umbrellas"

Features:

Anonymous Posts (11.9.09-11.15.09)

Anonymous Posts (11.16.09-11.22.09)

Anonymous Posts (11.23.09-11.29.09)

Anonymous Posts (11.30.09-12.6.09)

Anonymous Posts (12.7.09-12.13.09)

Every Gay Should Know #1: Maine's Question 1 Ad Campaign

Every Gay Should Know #2: Gay Media Pioneers Bert and Ernie

Coming Out Story #1

Coming Out Story #2

Coming Out Story #3

Interview #1.1: Viviana Santiago

Interview #1.2: Viviana Santiago

Interview #2.1: Ari Bar-Mashiah

Interview #2.2: Ari Bar-Mashiah

Every Duke Gay Should Know #1: 2007 Addition of "Gender Identity" to Duke's Non-Discrimination Policy

Every Duke Gay Should Know #2: The Gothic Queers

So Far, So Very Very Good.

Our blog recently celebrated its one-month birthday. And what a month it's been! Including news blurbs, we've had 124 posts written by 13 different BDU members. Google Analytics tells me that the site has been visited 4,066 times by 1,172 people from 33 different countries. We're only 8 states short of the full 50. Our post on the Durham Vigil for Jorge and Jason was featured on Pam's House Blend, which is read nationally and revered personally.

I don't think any of us foresaw this level of success! At the same time, though, I'm not surprised. The entire staff has come up so big for this blog, and every incredible outcome is largely due (and directly proportional) to the hard work and passion of the people involved. So thank you, Staff, for everything. Y'all rock, and I hope you are witnessing the positivity and progress you are effecting in the comments section, the anonymous posts, and even around campus. Keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to a ton of fun next semester :)

To the Readers. You have carried this blog as well! Your questions and input alike are so important to a Duke (and evidently national) Community that is starving for these conversations. Continue to visit, and spread the word. This project is only going to get bigger. We've got some sweet ideas for next semester...

Happy Holidays,

Chris Perry

Editor

P.S. Today is also the five-day anniversary of the Glee season finale, where this happened:

So I'll be celebrating (read: "performing") that, too, today (in my underwear, most likely) if you'd like to follow suit. Just saying.